kscarbel2

I seriously doubt it. i was looking for a 2007 Granite part today that Volvo has already discontinued.

The shift towers has to be rebuilt ever 2 years or so. It was a very poor design. I can't remember all the part numbers but typically you replace the outer boots, bushings (80AX747?), seals (88AX349P3?), shafts and gears (because the teeth wear down). These was a Mack service bulletin on the rebuilding procedure stemming from customer complaints about a sloppy shifter and oil leakage. The side cover is reinstalled using silicone sealant.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13749353/Thomas-Crooks-Trump-assassination-body.html

August 1, 2024 Commercial Vehicle Group (CVG) today announced it reached an agreement to sell its Cab Structures business with operations in Kings Mountain, North Carolina to a Volvo Group company, effective July 31, 2024. The net proceeds of the transaction are expected to be $40 million, with closure expected in the second half of 2024. CVG expects the majority of proceeds to be used for debt paydown and other general corporate purposes. The Cab Structures business primarily serves the Class 8 truck market. This transaction continues a trend of heavy truck OEMs insourcing their cab structure production in recent years. James Ray, CVG President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “The strategic sale of our Cab Structures business marks another milestone on our journey to evolve our business towards higher-growth products and markets, in line with our ongoing strategic transformation plan, while simultaneously generating shareholder value. The sale of our Cab Structures business reduces our exposure to the cyclical Class 8 market, lowers our customer concentration, removes complexity from our business, and improves our return profile.” About 230 CVG employees are expected to become employees of Volvo, as part of the transaction. “We are very happy to see this plant in good hands,” said Mr. Ray. “Volvo brings proven operating experience. Kings Mountain employees will benefit from continuity of the plant’s operations and will have the unique opportunity to work for the OEM. This transaction also lowers our future capital investment needs and provides the opportunity to invest in high-growth opportunities moving forward. We will continue to closely review additional opportunities for value creation.” CVG expects to update its full-year 2024 outlook to reflect the impact of the Cab Structures business divestiture in its second quarter 2024 earnings release expected to be released on August 5, 2024.

I like Jamie. He's on top of his game in business, extremely smart and passionate about the country.

The country needs a leader who is committed to reaffirming our special role in the world. Opinion – Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan August 2, 2024 We live in a perilous time. Deeply divided, our nation now faces both challenging domestic issues and perhaps the most complicated geopolitical situation since World War II. We may be at an inflection point that will determine the fate of the free and democratic world for decades. We should not sleepwalk into disaster — we will prevail, but we need an active, comprehensive effort. This is precisely the time when strong American leadership is needed to unite us and strengthen the indispensable role our country plays for the safety of the world. We’ve faced worse: war, economic upheaval, social transformation. In those moments, leaders such as Presidents Lincoln, Truman and Eisenhower guided us forward with common sense and pragmatism. Our best leaders strengthen the bonds that unite us. They address the broader interests of our country and don’t pander to base politics or cater to extremes. There are lessons learned from these leaders that our current candidates should embrace. Unity is a word, but there are specific actions that can accomplish it — actions I hope our next president will adopt: First, our problems cannot be fixed without our leaders acknowledging them. Unite Americans with regular, honest and open communication. We deserve a president who explains our problems, encourages input from all sides, and shares plans and solutions. Eisenhower made a point to have lunch or dinner with opposition leaders, including those he disagreed with, and listen to their views. The best leaders in politics and business take criticism as an opportunity to ask themselves “Where are they right?” instead of “Why are they wrong?” If we’re going to truly unify our country, we need to begin treating opposing views, complaints and critiques as opportunities to find common ground and make us better. Second, develop policies that reflect our critical place on the global stage. These national policies should include facing — and fixing — our failure to create equal opportunity for all, expanding the economy by encouraging investments, sharing the wealth, addressing our national debt, maintaining the world’s strongest military, taking control of our borders, strengthening the social safety nets, and renewing national pride by unabashedly teaching civics and American exceptionalism without papering over our mistakes. In addition, we need to get back to a pragmatic, smart and no-nonsense foreign policy that also advances our economic strategy and strengthens our relationships with our allies. This would include the more effective use of diplomacy, trade and the active promotion of democratic values. When our allies are fighting wars to defend their sovereignty and democracies, and desperately need secure and reliable energy sources, delaying long-term liquid natural gas projects in Louisiana and Texas is misguided and self-defeating. It is bad for the environment and the economy — and it is bad for our allies. Third, we need smarter policies that provide protection, progress and prosperity to all. Sadly, we lack coherent energy, education, infrastructure, housing, tax and immigration policies. While we agree sometimes on the problems and the goals, our prescriptions are too often simplistic and poorly designed. The American Dream is disappearing for many because opportunity is not shared equally. Many inner-city and rural schools do not teach students the skills they need to get good jobs. Some of these problems aren’t necessarily intractable. For example, we can easily reform our mortgage policies to make homeownership more affordable for lower-income Americans. Additionally, both parties agree on the benefits of dramatically expanding the earned income tax credit, which would get much-needed income to the individuals and communities most in need of it. The absence of good policy is hurting our country and, unfortunately, hurts those who are already disadvantaged the most. Next, build the best team: a group of rivals. The members of a president’s Cabinet and administration should reflect the entire nation. Tribal politics will not deliver the best talent and expertise across the political spectrum. Put country and Constitution first. The private sector has huge wells of expertise and produces 85 percent of our nation’s jobs. It should have a seat at the table. Yet in recent years, government leaders have often failed to engage those in industry. A president should put the most talented people, including those from business and the opposite party, into their Cabinet. We have seen the powerful impact of this collaboration in places like Detroit. In that city, we saw a mayor, governor, city council, business leaders and community leaders come together regardless of party affiliation to get their city back on its feet. The city’s bonds are investment-grade today, just 10 years after it declared bankruptcy. Collaboration works. Finally, work to earn the support of all voters. Recognize that voters are all different and have good reasons to think differently. Do not insult, stereotype, weaponize, scapegoat or gaslight. And do not attack them. Engage them. This takes bravery. Some forms of bravery are obvious: fighting for our country and caring for our sick. Other forms are less obvious but just as important: listening openly to conflicting views, changing your mind, lifting people up, choosing country over party. A healthy, unified country is good for everyone. I believe that our nation is at a critical time in its 248-year history. Like many of your families, my grandparents were immigrants who did not finish high school. They were drawn to the promise of this nation, which was then, and still is, the beacon of freedom for the world. America has all the advantages, and we can win the future with smart policy, courageous leaders and everyone with a seat at the table moving in concert. We need to elect a president who is dedicated to the ideals that define and unite us, and who is committed to restoring our faith in America and our indispensable role in the world. Such a person could be one of our greatest presidents — and put us on a path that is worthy of the American people.

“The biggest mistake they [Secret Service] made is allowing me to go [onto the stage]. They shouldn’t have let me go on the stage. Different groups of people knew there was some nut job on the roof.” President Trump

The FBI on Friday said: “What struck former President Trump in the ear was a bullet, whether whole or fragmented into smaller pieces, fired from the deceased subject’s rifle.” .............................................................. “There is no evidence that it was anything other than a bullet. Director Wray is wrong and inappropriate to suggest anything else. Having served as an Emergency Medicine physician for over 20 years in the United States Navy…I have treated many gunshot wounds in my career.” Ronny Jackson - President Trump's physician ................................................................. "A detailed analysis of bullet trajectories, footage, photos and audio by The New York Times strongly suggests Mr. Trump was grazed by the first of eight bullets fired by the gunman. A trajectory analysis show that the bullet traveled in a straight line from the gunman to the bleachers, clipping Mr. Trump on its path. This suggests the bullet was not deflected by first striking an object that would have then sprayed Mr. Trump with debris [shrapnel].” The New York Times

I like FBI Director Wray. He levels with you, is actually informative and answers questions. .

If I recall correctly, he also has a M125A1 with the LeRoi gasoline engine. https://www.steelsoldiers.com/threads/10-ton-m123-a1c-10-ton-m123-e2-rescue.210768/ https://www.steelsoldiers.com/threads/10-ton-m125-repaint.20785/ https://www.militarytrader.com/military-vehicles/the-m125-ten-tons-of-attitude

https://www.ebay.com/itm/176471833470?itmmeta=01J384H7A893MB3SE4T0594PMJ&hash=item29168a7b7e:g:zU4AAOSwVQJmlCKE I "really" wish that I could buy it but I don't currently have the right situation. I remember reading about this gentleman several years ago, including his procurement of spec-correct government-rebuilt Cummins engine and Mack tranny.

There's no such thing as fleet red. The name was "Mack standard red", and the Mack part number for the gallon can was 312SX15P2 (P2 means gallon size). Our supplier was Kirker Chemical of Patterson, New Jersey. I don't recall their part number.

Unreal. Why don't other congressmen join the conversation ??? .

Observe Senator Kennedy speaking to fed chair Jerome Powell today. Unlike most other senators, John Kennedy didn't beat around the bush. Cold hard facts. He points out the true "state of the union". Impressive, as always. But never a showboater, as he actually has integrity. A man who obviously does his homework so as to fiercely represent his constituents (what a concept). You'll "never" observe him exaggerating, distorting or fabricating the facts. Note that fed chair Powell refused to disagree with the democrat committee chair and acknowledge that inflation was not caused by corporate greed. .

I've been using Fumoto oil drain valves, in place of drain plugs, since 1983. I have them on all my vehicles, small and large, and my Deere tractors. One finger to open the valve lever. You can attach a hose to the valve. It eliminates all the mess........puts you in control.

Automotive News / July 7, 2024 Call it the case of the disappearing dipstick. Stellantis [FCA] customers with the new Hurricane twin-turbo six-cylinder engine in their Jeep SUVs and Ram pickups may be in for a surprise when they open the hood to check the oil. The dipstick, an appendage poking out the side of the cylinder block of nearly every American automobile engine for a century, is gone. It has been replaced by an oil level measuring system that uses a sensor mounted vertically in the oil pan. The sensor transmits data that can be accessed on the car’s touchscreen in the center of the dash — similar to the method used in many European luxury cars for more than a decade. In an era when automakers are working to rein in ballooning costs, why would they replace a no-tech commodity such as a dipstick, essentially a thin, flat piece of flexible metal with a plastic grip that likely costs pennies to make, with a more expensive system that contains a sensor, wiring, lines of code and added computing power? “Today’s consumer does not prioritize manually checking the oil level. With a sensor, that info is presented to them every time they turn on the ignition. This is customer-focused engineering,” said Stellantis spokesperson Dale Jewett. Mercedes-Benz makes no passenger vehicles with dipsticks. “With digital oil level measurement, customers can easily monitor their vehicle’s oil level in their vehicle’s driver display and receive timely alerts if oil level is outside normal limits. This proactive approach helps to avert potential engine damage,” says Mercedes-Benz USA spokesperson Andrew Brudnicki. “Moreover, the accuracy of the oil measurement is not reliant on a person’s expertise. Digital measurement eliminates the risk of human error as external factors that can result in misinterpretation of the oil level. For example, if the vehicle is not on a level surface, differences in cold and warm measurement, the angle at which the dipstick is viewed,” he added. “Manufacturers don’t really want the driver, their customers, under the hood anymore. A lot of cars now are hybrid and have high voltage and there’s a higher safety concern,” said Michael Crossen at Consumer Reports. “You also have the scenario where the customer does check the oil with the dipstick and maybe it is a little low,” he said. “And they want to top it off. The customer could overfill it, which isn’t great. And a lot of cars are requiring very specific oil. Manufacturers don’t want someone just dumping in whatever they have laying around.” Crossen said optics might also be playing a role in the dipstick’s dismissal. Except for the yellow plastic grip, which is meant to make the dipstick easy to locate in the engine bay, the flexible metal rod has not changed much in a century. A dipstick, he said, is archaic and out of context in modern cars loaded with electronics that present information about the health of a vehicle at the touch of a button or with a screen icon. “The customer has to pop the hood. They might get their hands dirty. It’s not the modern way of doing things,” he said. “So, there’s a perception of ‘Hey, look what I can do from my center screen.’ ” Mercedes-Benz went dipstick-less in 2018. Most BMWs have dispensed with them. “The value in the tech is that it more accurately measures and monitors vehicle oil with appropriate warnings,” said Mini spokesperson Andrew Cutler. “Newer connected vehicles also provide alerts to customers via their vehicle app and can also assist with scheduling of service appointments. Dealers can also tailor service programs and activities based on the vehicle/customer needs with connected car data,” he added in an email. The 2025 Ram 1500 is the first internal combustion powered pickup without a dipstick. While computerized oil level monitoring technology might be valued by drivers of upscale import brand vehicles, it’s a different story based on early feedback from Ram truck drivers, said Tim Esterdahl, host of “Pickup Truck Talk” on YouTube and TikTok. A recent video focusing on the Ram’s dipstick disappearance garnered 3.3 million TikTok views. On YouTube, that same clip provoked 266 comments — nearly all negative. “Even if most pickup guys don’t check and change their oil, they will want the opportunity to do it. They don’t trust technology and they don’t trust sensors. Even though BMW has done it for years, pickup drivers don’t care. And they are irate,” Esterdahl said. “You always want to have a mechanical way to check the oil, which is what a dipstick basically does. There are so many trust factors involved in a computer system and they are so complex,” he said. “All the guys I am talking to can’t wait for an aftermarket dipstick to be added.” But the dipstick dismissal in the Ram’s Hurricane engine may not be a bad thing, said Dave Bell, a master technician in Utah. “It’s amazing to me how many people actually don’t even know how to check their oil. I mean, they buy a $50,000 car or truck and they never even check their oil,” he told Automotive News. Bell said many drivers have been lulled into ignoring their engine’s oil because manufacturers have extended oil change intervals to as much as 15,000 miles, and because oil quality monitors tell them when to change the oil. “People have this misconception in that they think, ‘I’ve got oil in there, I don’t have to check it.’ But engines burn oil. As long as there is a reliable [oil] level sensor in there — and I stress the word reliable — I wouldn’t have any problem with them if they work correctly. Maybe people would pay more attention to a warning that came on saying they’re a quart low,” said Bell, whose shop derives a significant amount of its revenue from rebuilding failed, worn-out, abused and neglected gasoline and diesel pickup engines. In vehicles with dipsticks, no record of the oil level is kept in the car’s engine computer. Low oil pressure, often caused by low oil levels, triggers a trouble code that is stored in the car’s computer and a check-engine light to alert the driver to a potential problem. But an engine can have a crankcase with the proper amount of oil and also have low oil pressure. That can be caused by a failing oil pump, debris in the oil pickup tube, a stuck pressure relief valve or another problem that reduces the flow of oil through the engine. Now the Hurricane engine has the electronic infrastructure in place to store oil level information. That could make a significant difference in determining the cause of engine failures and the expensive warranty claims that often accompany them. If Stellantis and the other automakers that have dispensed with the dipstick are retaining oil level data, they are not talking about it publicly. BMW and Mercedes-Benz refused to comment on how the data is tracked. Stellantis said oil level data for the Hurricane engine is not stored or tracked. Typical leases run three years. But powertrain warranties are usually longer. The Hurricane engine, for example, has a five-year or 60,000-mile warranty. Ignoring oil change intervals or using the wrong oil could cause problems long after the vehicle is returned at the end of the lease. Closer oil monitoring, along with strong warnings might prevent damage, such as sludge buildup that can choke off the flow of oil and destroy an engine. Some vehicles store lifetime fuel economy data. Bell said automakers could easily collect and retain a vehicle’s lifetime oil data, too: “They could gather that information for the life of the vehicle and store it on a chip.”

I still learn something new every day. The General Motors Air Transport Section (GMATS) was a corporate air service operated by General Motors to provide fast transportation for employees that needed to travel between various GM locations. By 1965, GMATS had 27 pilots, 27 co-pilots and a total staff of 230. Willow Run served as the maintenance base for its aircraft fleet: Douglas DC-3 Convair 340 Convair 580 Saab 2000 Rockwell Sabreliner Cessna Citation X Grumman Gulfstream II Gulfstream V Beechcraft Queen Air Beechcraft King Air Beechcraft King Air 200 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_Air_Transport .

https://www.gmdefensellc.com/site/us/en/gm-defense/home/integrated-vehicles/luv.html

Often forgotten, Ford has the money, the deep pockets, to re-enter the North American truck market at any time it pleases.........or buy out an existing NA heavy truck player.

In 1965, Mack was on the verge of bankruptcy. The board invited Zenon to come talk with them. Zenon knew the dire situation, but was excited to turn around a great company with huge potential. Alike his friend Vince Lombardi, Zenon loved challenges and wasn't a quitter.